PUBLICATIONS 

— OF  THE — 

SCOTTISH  INSTITUTE  OF  AMERICA 


BULLETIN  No.  I 


REV.  ROBERT  TATE'S  HISTORY 

—OF— 

BLACK  RIVER  CHAPEL 


(A  short  and  imperfect  sketch  of  the  rise  and  progress 

of  the  Black  River  Church,  commonly  known 

by  the  name  of  the  Black  River  Chapel) 


SEPTEMBER,  1925 


Copyright,  1925 

Elizabeth  Janet  Black 

Secretary  and  Director 

SCOTTISH  INSTITUTE  OF  AMERICA 

(Affiliated  with  the  Arran  Society) 


The  National  Press,   inc..  Wilmington.   N.  C-seaoe 


DEDICATED 

TO 

James  Nicholson  Corbett,  Elder,  Black  River  Presby- 
terian Church,  and  James  W,  Colvin,  Elder,  Caswell 
Presbyterian  Church,  who  collected,  preserved  and 
passed  on  the  Tate  Manuscript  to 

ELIZABETH  JANET  BLACK 


Cf  Z* 


3 


c.Q- 
REV.  ROBERT  TATE'S  HISTORY 

OF 

BLACK  RIVER  CHAPEL 


A  Short  and  Imperfect  Sketch  of  the  Rise  and  Progress  of  Black  River 
Church,  Commonly  Known  by  the  Name  of  Black  River  Chapri. 


For  a  number  of  years  previous  to  the  Revolutionary  war  in  this  country,  which  commenced 
A.  D.  1775,  there  was  a  constant  and  increasing  immigration  of  families  from  the  Highlands  of 
Scotland  and  other  parts  of  Europe  to  this  Western  hemisphere.  Some  of  these  peoples  after  hav- 
ing landed  on  the  American  shore  came  and  settled  on  Black  River  and  South  River  and  their  tribu- 
tary streams,  while  many  others  pressed  onward  to  the  West  and  Southwest  in  quest  of  a  home,  a 
home  that  might  be  permanent  and  which  they  might  be  permitted  to  call  their  own  and  afterwards 
their  children's.  Some  of  those  families  who  were  disposed  to  stop  and  settle  down  in  this  place 
were  professors  of  the  Christian  religion  and  were  mostly  of  the  Presbyterian  faith  and  order — 
Daniel  Kerr,  Murphys,  Hendrys  and  MacDuffies. 

These  people  soon  felt  that  they  were  indeed  strangers  in  a  strange  land  and  they  perceived  they 
were  destined  to  trials  and  privations  neither  few  nor  small,  and  the  want  of  Gospel  privileges  ap- 
peared not  the  least  grievous  and  oppressive.  The  land  of  their  Fathers,  on  which  they  had  so  re- 
cently turned  their  backs  and  to  which  they  had  bid  a  long  farewell  recurred  to  their  minds  in  lively 
and  daily  remembrance.  That  was  in  many  respects  a  blessed  land,  it  was  a  land  of  Bibles,  of 
holy  Sabbaths,  of  Sanctuaries,  whither  the  tribes  of  Israel  Went  up  with  joy  and  songs  upon  their 
heads  and  where  they  enjoyed  the  care,  the  sympathy,  the  prayers  and  the  institution  of  God's 
ministering  servants.  But  behold  their  lots  were  now  cast  upon  a  land  far  removed  from  all  these 
soul  refreshing  privileges,  they  knew  now  from  sad  experience  that  they  were  dwelling  in  an  howl- 
ing wilderness,  in  a  dry  and  desert  land,  where  there  is  no  water,  no  Sabbaths,  no  Sanctuaries,  where 
are  set  thrones  of  judgment,  the  thrones  of  the  house  of  David,  and  where  the  Lord  is  great  in  Zion 
and  is  high  above  all  people,  no  Pastors  to  go  in  with  them  and  out  of  the  Pastures  of  the  Great  Shep- 
herd of  Israel.  For  the  vision  is  yet  for  an  appointed  time,  but  at  the  end  it  shall  speak  and  not 
lie,  light  is  sown  for  the  righteous,  it  shall  shine.  God  is  mindful  of  his  covenant  and  if  his  chosen 
should  be  called  to  go  toi  the  utmost  ends  of  the  earth,  his  left  hand  will  lead  them  and  his  right 
hand  shall  hold  and  embrace  them. 

In  those  days  of  spiritual  darkness  and  dearth,  however,  God  had  some  good  in  store  for  these 
bereaved  and  destitute  sojourners.  And  probably  as  far  back  as  the  year  1760,  or  further,  this 
neighborhood  was  favored  with  the  presence  and  labors  of  a  certain  Revd.  James  Tate,  who  was  a 
Pfesbyterian  minister  and  was  from  Ireland  and  whose  residence  was  in  Wilmington,  N.  C.  This 
gentleman  was  a  profound  scholar1  and  the  first  teacher  of  classical  literature  that  ever  was  in  that 
town.  As  a  man  he  was  of  easy  and  courteous  habits,  as  a  professor  of  religion  he  was  consistent, 
and  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel  his  sermons  were  edifying,  although  they  were  not  delivered  with 
great  vividness  and  energy.     He  was  indefatigable  in  his  ministerial  labors,  in  journeyings  often 


little  fire  kindleth."  Let  a  spark  be  stricken  from  the  steel  and  let  it  fall  on  some  combustible 
matter,  it  will  take  fire  and  spread  until  a  mighty  flame  is  produced.  Where  yesterday  peace  and 
harmony  and  fellowship  reigned  and  prevailed,  today,  strife,  ill  will  and  bitterness  have  obtained 
the  ascendance.  It  came  to  pass  in  the  following  way,  as  I  am  told:  On  a  certain  Saturday,  it 
was  said  that  the  Revd.  Colin  Lindsey  attended  a  sale  of  property  somewhere  on  the  Northwest 
River  and  bought  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  had  them  brought  to  his  home  on  the  following  Sabbath. 
This  deed  was  soon  proclaimed  as  it  were  upon  the  housetop  and  in  the  streets.  Several  of  Mr.  Lind- 
sey's  warmest  friends  and  the  friends  of  the  church  for  which  they  had  prayed  fervently,  and  waited 
long,  were  ftearful  that  such  a  report  would  have  a  very  unfavorable  effect  upon  their  Pastor  and 
the  cause  of  God  within  the  bounds  of  that  church.  Several  respectable  members  of  the  church 
were  much  aggrieved  at  the  circulation  of  such  a  rumor  but  I  am  not  aware  of  the  names  of  any  of 
them,  except  two  individuals,  viz.,  Mr.  Sam'l  McAlister  and  Mr.  Danier  Kerr,  the  father  of 
Daniel  Kerr.  These  brethren  with  sorrow  of  heart  for  their  Pastor  and  with  sympathy  for  the 
chuch  of  Christ,  Went  to  him  not  to  condemn  him  or  offend  him  but  to  warn  and  admonish  him 
against  the  repetition  of  similar  deeds  in  time  to  come.  In  the  discharge  of  this  duty,  though  very 
painful  to  them,  they  hoped,  evil  aspersions  for  the  future  might  be  prevented.  But  Mr.  Lindsey, 
it  is  said,  took  it  very  unkindly  and  became  rather  indignant.  And  on  the  first  opportunity  that 
occurred,  while  in  the  pulpit  gave  indications  of  his  being  offended  with  these  brethren  and  that  he 
considered  their  conduct  to  him  as  unchristian  and  unbrotherly  and  an  assumption  of  too  much 
authority.  From  this  procedure  of  Mr.  Lindsey,  the  number  of  his  friends  became  more  and  more 
diminished.  Beside  this  charge  there  were  others  subsequently  alleged  against  Mr.  Lindsey,  viz., 
of  drinking  spirits  to  excess,  of  using  improper  language,  and  of  indulging  in  passion.  The  friends 
of  the  church  and  also  of  their  Pastor  from  efforts  already  made  were  soon  convinced  of  their  ina- 
bility to  arrest  the  evils  that  had  befallen  the  church,  and  of  restoring  peace  and  order  within  its 
walls.  They  therefore  began  to  think  of  applying  to  Presbytery,  in  the  hope,  these  devisable  ob- 
jects might  be  obtained  through  the  influence  of  that  body.  In  the  capacity  of  a  representative  of 
this  church  Mr.  Samuel  McAlister  was  chosen  to  go  to  the  Presbytery  of  Orange,  which  was  to  hold 
its  session  in  one  of  the  churches  in  Mecklenburg  County.  Accordingly  Mr.  McAlister  (also  Wil- 
liam Robinson)  appeared  in  that  Judicatory  and  gave  a  statement  of  affairs  in  the  church  he  repre- 
sented and  presented  a  petition  requesting  their  counsel  and  aid.  This  was  in  the  fall  of  the  year, 
perhaps  1790  or  1791.  The  prayer  of  this  petitioner  was  heard  and  granted.  An  adjourned  Presby- 
tery was  appointed  to  meet  at  this  church  in  the  following  winter.  That  Presbytery  was  compos- 
ed of  Dr.  Jas.  Hall,  the  Revd.  Messrs.  David  Kerr,  who  I  think  at  that  time  preached  in  Fayette- 
ville  or  in  the  neighborhood,  he  was  the  first  President  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  he 
was  from  Ireland,  Jacob  Lake,  Sam'l  Stanford  and  Colin  Lindsey.  The  issue,  to  which  this  contro- 
versy was  brought  by  that  Presbytery  was:  The  Revd.  Colin  Lindsey  was  sharply  though  broth- 
erly rebuked  by  Presbytery  and  urged  to  drop  all  altercation  and  to  return  in  love  and  christian 
fellowship  to  his  flock.  But  the  wound  that  was  inflicted  was  not  healed.  A  final  separation  took 
place  between  the  Pastor  and  his  people  and  the  Revd.  Colin  Lindsey  removed  to  the  Raft  Swamp 
I  believe.  At  that  Presbytery  Mr.  John  Mackamy  Wilson  was  licensed  to  preach  the  everlasting 
gospel.  The  church  was  now  vacant.  The  Presbytery  of  Orange,  though  few  in  number,  were  not 
unmindful  of  this  church,  they  sent  them  occasionally  some  supplies.  A  Mr.  Jno.  Anderson,  Jas. 
Bowan  and  Wm.  Paisley  were  sent  by  Presbytery  in  the  years  1794,  1795,  and  1796.  About  the 
year  1797  the  Revd.  Sam'l  Stanford  undertook  to  minister  to  this  people,  one  Sabbath  in  the  month, 


but  owing  to  sickness  in  own  person  and  family,  his  labors  here  were  not  continued  more  than  two 
years  when  he  withdrew.     The  church  became  vacant  again. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  1799,  Robert  Tate,  a  member  of  the  Orange  Presbytery,  and  who  had 
lately  been  ordained  Pastor  of  the  united  churches  of  Rockfish  and  Hopewell  engaged  at  their  re- 
quest to  assume  the  charge  of  this  church  and  to  give  them  one  Sabbath  in  every  month.  The  first 
sermon  he  recollects  of  preaching  in  this  place  was  from  Psalms  43:4:  "Then  will  I  go  unto  the 
altar  of  God,  unto  God  my  exceeding  joy:  yea  upon  the  harp  will  I  praise  thee,  O  God,  my  God." 
From  which  words  he  attempted  to  show  the  use  and  benefits  of  the  public  ordinances  of  the  Gos- 
pel and  the  joys  and  delights  the  believer  has  from  the  hope  of  being  reconciled  to  God.     John 

Anderson,  William  Robeson,  C.  Henry, were  Ruling  Elders  then  in  this  church.  Sam'l  McAlister 

had  gone  to  his  rest,  and  Thos.  Devane  had  withdrawn  if  he  had  not  returned  to  the  world.  The 
members  of  this  church,  and  indeed  all  the  inhabitants  in  this  neighborhood,  I  well  remember,  were 
kind-hearted,  hospitable  and  polite.  But  I  also  remember  that  very  little  discipline  had  been  ex- 
ercised in  the  church.  The  pastor  was  young  and  inexperienced  and  he  took  hold  of  that  weapon 
with  a  trembling  hand.  The  pastor  had  a  lively  reminiscence  of  many  popular  customs  that  pre- 
vailed in  those  days  in  high  places  and  low  places,  among  the  wise  and  honorable  and  also  among 
the  ignorant  and  ignoble.  Dancing  had  its  warm  advocates  among  all  classes  of  people.  It  was 
countenanced  here  even  by  professors  of  religion  and  by  them  it  was  admitted  into  their  homes, 
particularly  on  marriage  occasions.  The  gallons,  or  more  truly  the  barrels,  of  spirits  the  Pastor 
had  seen  used  on  such  occasions  were  not  few.  Gambling  and  horseracing  were  idols  also  in  those 
days  with  many  men,  and  for  the  worship  of  which  some  hardly  regarded  the  most  costly  sacrifices. 
It  was  likewise  a  custom  with  some  people  here  and  elsewhere  to  provide  cakes  and  spirits  to  be  serv- 
ed up  to  those  friends,  who  were  in  attendance,  at  the  burial  of  the  dead.  This  custom  was  adopt- 
ed no  doubt  by  the  relative^  of  the  dead  with  kind  and  honorable  feelings  to  their  friends.  But 
this  custom  was  certainly  calculated  to  diminish  from  the  solemnity  of  the  occasion  and  to  afford  to 
the  inebriate  an  opportunity  of  gratifying  the  appetite.  But  I  am  happy  to  say  these  instances  were 
rare.  Some  of  God's  people  in  this  place  looked  upon  these  customs  as  sinful  ways  of  the  world  with 
grief  of  heart  and  tears  and  with  fervent  and  importunate  prayers,  they  wrestled  hard  for  this  re- 
moval. These  prayers  were  finally  heard  and  answered  and  these  customs  were  doomed  to  die  a 
death  long  since.  And  it  is  the  prayer  of  many  Christians  they  may  never  be  revived  and  especially 
among  those  who  call  themselves  Christ's. 

For  the  greater  part  of  the  ministry  of  R.  Tate  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  was  ad- 
ministered in  this  church  twice  in  the  year,  and  almost  on  every  occasion  some  members  have  been 
added  to  the  church.  Not  long  after  his  connection  with  this  church  Alexd.  Henry,  Allen  Shaw, 
Geo.  Bannerman,  ,  were  ordained  Ruling  Elders  in  this  church.  A  few  years  after- 
wards William  H.  Beatty,  Esq.,  John  Colvin,  Cornelius  Murphy  and  Wm.  Henry  were  ordained  Rul- 
ing Elders  in  this  church.  In  the  year  1829,  towards  its  close,  a  Temperance  Society  was  formed 
in  this  house.  From  the  novelty  of  the  thing  with  some,  from  the  prejudice  and  opposition  of  others, 
only  two  or  three  members  were  found  willing  to  rally  around  its  standard.  But  from  further 
developments  of  its  principles  and  a  little  better  acquaintance  with  its  merits  in  a  short  time,  it 
grew  mightily  in  number  and  reputation,  and  it  carries  its  own  proof  with  it  wherever  it  goes  of  its 
excellence  and  unspeakable  advantages  to  saint  and  sinner,  to  soul  and  body,  for  time  and  eternity. 


On  the  first  Sabbath  in  June,  1832,  it  pleased  the  great  Shepherd  of  Israel  to  favor  this  por- 
tion of  his  heritage  with  a  remarkable  refreshing  from  his  presence.  The  Spirit  of  God  on  that  oc- 
casion was  in  a  remarkable  mannfer  poured  forth  on  saints  and  sinners  and  it  is  hoped  many  pre- 
cious ones  were  saved  and  called  with  a  holy  calling  not  according  to  their  own  works,  but  accord- 
ing to  his  own  purpose  and  grace  which  was  given  them  in  Christ  Jesus  before  the  World  began. 
On  that  day  50  or  60  persons  gave  themselves  to  God  in  the  Courts  of  his  house.  This  happy 
change,  we  trust,  in  the  souls  of  many  was  effected  by  the  blessing  of  God  on  the  means  of  his  own 
appointment  through  the  instrumentality  of  the  Revd.  Thos.  P.  Hunt,  who  appeared  willing  to  spend 
and  be  spent  for  the  salvation  of  souls,  whose  desire  it  seemed  to  be,  as  it  is  of  many  who  are  called 
revival  preachers,  to  labor  solely  and  exclusively. 

On  the  first  Sabbath  in  August  this  church  was  again  favored  with  many  tokens  of  God's  pres- 
ence and  of  his  loving  kindness,  no  less  than  50  or  60  were  this;  day  received  into  the  fellowship 
of  the  church.  On  this  occasion  the  Revd.  Lemuel  D.  Hatch  and  Revd.  Wm.  Brobston  were  present 
and  we  trust  their  labors  and  prayers  were  blessed.  Some  of  those  who  avouched  the  Lord  to  be 
their  God  and  Christ  to  be  their  Saviour  on  those  occasions,  it  is  true,  have  turned  from  the  ser- 
vice of  the  living  God  to  serve  dumb  idols.  But  it  is  cause  of  gratitude  to  Almighty  God  that  the 
greater  part  of  those  who  on  those  two  days  alluded  to  named  upon  them  the  name  of  Christ  seem- 
ed determined  to  follow  on  to  know  the  Lord,  of  all  such  we  hope  the  things  that  accompany  their 
salvation.  Owing  to  the  enlargement  of  the  church,  to  the  excitement  still  prevailing  and  also  to 
the  declining  health  of  the  Pastor  and  his  inability  of  preaching  to  them  more  than  once  a  month, 
the  congregation  thought  it  advisable  to  obtain  more  ministerial  aid.  Accordingly  the  services  of 
the  Revd.  D.  A.  Campbell  were  obtained  about  the  beginning  of  the  year  1833  when  the  church  was 
united  under  two  Pastors.  While  this  church  was  thus  united  it  was  pleasing  to  see  the  work  of  the 
Lord  prospering,  his  word  had  free  course  and  was  glorified  in  the  salvation  of  many  and  to  hear 
many  on  every  Sacramental  occasion  inquiring  what  they  must  do  to  be  saved.  While  this  was  a 
Collegiate  Church  Geo.  W.  Bannerman,  Esq.,  John  Hendry  and  Mr.  H.  Beattie  were  ordained  Rul- 
ing Elders  by  R.  Tate  and  under  their  united  ministry  the  Temperance  cause  waxed  stronger  and 
stronger.  At  the  organization  of  a  new  church  called  Hunt's  Church  on  Widow  Moore's  Creek,  Rob- 
ert Henry,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Wm.  Colvin  were  ordained  Ruling  Elders  by  Revd.  Campbell,  which 
church  is  extinct  now.  While  good  will  and  fellowship  were  cultivated  between  the  pastors  and 
among  the  members  of  this  church  and  while  prosperity  and  peace  seemed  to  be  attendants  on 
God's  earthly  Zion  here,  the  Revd.  D.  A.  Campbell  came  to  the  determination  to  remove  from  this 
part  of  his  Master's  vineyard  and  having  resigned  his  pastoral  office  in  this  church,  he  did  remove 
some  time  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1834,  contrary  to  the  entreaties  of  his  christian  brethren. 
The  whole  charge  again  devolved  on  the  former  Pastor  R.  Tate.  The  services  of  Mr.  Thos.  R.  Owen 
were  however  obtained  some  time  in  the  year  1834.  The  preaching  of  Mr.  Owen  being  well  receiv- 
ed a  call  was  made  out  for  him  and  sent  to  the  Presbytery  of  Fayetteville,  of  which  he  was  a  licen- 
tiate, at  its  spring  session.  Which  call  he  accepted  and  was  ordained  by  an  adjourned  Presbytery 
appointed  for  that  purpose.  This  Presbytery  consisted  of  Revd.  Messrs.  Sim.  Colton,  Wm.  Brob- 
ston, and  Robt.  Tate,  ministers.  Shortly  after  this  Robt.  Tate  applied  to  the  session  of  the  church 
for  an  entire  release  from  his  labors  here,  which  prayer  being  granted  he  finally  withdrew  his  de- 
mises. The  Revd.  T.  R.  Owen  came  into  this  church  under  such  favorable  circumstances  that  a 
happy  and  lasting  union  might  have  been  anticipated,  yet  he  resigned  his  charge  of  this  church  in 


the  space  of  two  years  or  thereabouts  and  sought  another  spot  in  his  Lord's  vineyard  where  he  might 
labor.     The  additions  to  the  church  under  his  ministry  were  few.    Then  the  church  became  vacant. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  1838  the  Revd.  Henry  Brown  assumed  charge  of  this  church  and  con- 
tinued to  minister  to  this  people  with  great  acceptance  and  success,  although  the  additions  were  small 
until  May,  1840,  when  he  removed  to  Virginia.  Sunday  school  meetings,  and  prayer  meetings  were 
well  attended,  and  the  benevolent  institutions  of  the  day  were  generally  encouraged  and  sustained 
during  the  ministrations  of  both  Mr.  Owen  and  Mr.  Brown.  Jas.  Kerr,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Luke  Register 
were  ordained  Ruling  Elders  in  this  church  by  Revd.  Mr.  Brown. 

The  church  edifice  was  completed  and  dedicated  (dedication  sermon  was  preached  from  Matt. 
2:11)  to  Almighty  God  in  the  beginning  of  the  year  (1818).  A  certain  Mr.  Pritchard  was  the  work- 
man who  built  it.  It  was  built  principally  under  the  superintendence  of  Wm.  H.  Beatty,  Esq.,  one  of 
the  committee.  The  late  Mr.  Robert  Murphy  had  this  pulpit  made  and  put  up  at  his  own  expense 
and  he  generously  made  a  present  of  the  same  to  the  congregation. — Finis. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2013 


http://archive.org/details/revroberttateshiOOtate 


